Combination drain manifold and self-cleaning filter

ABSTRACT

A combined drain manifold and lint filter assembly has a drain manifold which is connected directly to a drain port formed in a tub of an automatic washing machine, and the lowermost wall of the drain manifold is formed by the flexible wall of a selfcleaning diaphragm filter so that the static water head pressure from the tub acts on the filter diaphragm to keep it closed without a backup plate or springs. Fluid entering the drain manifold is directed downwardly, across a side of the diaphragm opposite the filtering chamber then upwardly to an exit port, thereby flushing the drain manifold of sand and other small particles while trapping larger items such as buttons. A portion of the drain manifold overlying a peripheral edge of the flexible diaphragm is configured to be flexible for preventing breakage in the event fluid freezes in the manifold.

United States Patent [151 3,681,947 Cowan Aug. 8, 1972 [54] COMBINATION DRAIN MANIFOLD AND SELF-CLEANING FILTER Primary Examiner-William I. Price [72] Inventor: Richard L. Comm, St Joseph, Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meronl, Gross & Simpson h. 73] A xii irl lC ti Be H [57] ABS CT sslgnee' 3; men ar- A combined drain manifold and lint filter assembly has a drain manifold which is connected directly to a Flledl March drain port formed in a tub of an automatic washing [21] APPL 127,179 machine, and the lowermost wall of the drain manifold is formed by the flexible wall of a self-cleaning diaphragm filter so that the static water head pressure [52] US. Cl. ..68/18 F, 210/167 f the tub acts on the filter diaphragm to keep i [51] Ilit. Cl. ..D06I 39/19, BOld 35/22 closed without, a backup plate or springs. Fluid emer [58] M Search "68/18 [8 210/ ing the drain manifold is directed downwardly, across a side of the diaphragm opposite the filtering chamber [56] References cued then upwardly to an exit port, thereby flushing the UNITED STATES PATENTS drain manifold of sand and other small particles while trapping larger items such as buttons. A portion of the 2,413,954 1/1947 Conterman ..2l0/45l drain manifold overlying a peripheral edge f the i 2,443,816 6/1948 Dayls ..137/583 ble diaphragm is configured to be flexible for prevent, 3,236,386 2/1966 sahsburY et "68/18 F ing breakage in the event fluid freezes in the manifold. 3,282,427 11/1966 Mandanlno et al ..2l0/l08 3,455,456 7/ 1969 Wolters ..68/18 F 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 8 m2 3. 68 1, 947

sum 1 or 2 4 INVENTOR.

@afiara Z. Chara/7 BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAuc 8 I972 3,681,947

sum 2 or 2 P ..Z 4/ 1g INVENTOR.

E/ofiara Z, Goa/an BY ATTORNEYS COMBINATION DRAIN MANIFOLD AND SELF- CLEAN'ING FILTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to filtering apparatus and more particularly to a combined selfcleaning filter and drain manifold for .an automatic washing machine having a reversible hydraulic circuit for circulating laundry liquid first in one direction during a washing operation and then in an opposite direction during an extracting and draining operation.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is exemplified by US. Pat. No. 3,282,427, wherein a self-cleaning diaphragm filter utilizes a backing plate and requires spring clips or other retaining mechanisms to assure proper positioning of the expansible diaphragm filter element in a closed filtering operation.

Other examples of washer filters are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,455,456, 2,443,816 and 2,413,954.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a self-cleaning filter includes an integral drain manifold mounted directly to a tub of an automatic clothes washing machine or similar cleaning apparatus and is configured to entrap buttons and the like.

An exemplary automatic clothes washing machine operable through a complete cleaning cycle including washing, extracting and draining operations has a.

hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone formed by the tub and a reversible flow pump for selectively circulating laundry liquid through the circuit in alternative directions. The filter portion of the integral assembly comprises a movable wall member or diaphragm having an irregular filtering surface formed on one side to 'be cooperable with an adjoining action surface formed on an interior of a filter housing to define a filter maze when the diaphragm is urged into abutting engagement with the action surface. The filter housing has an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with one another via a filter chamber formed between the flexible diaphragm and the action surface.

The drain manifold portion of the assembly comprises an elongated hollow member attached at one end portion to the filter housing and having an opposite open end portion mounted to the tub and receiving fluid directly from the treatment zone. The flexible diaphragm extends across and closes the lower end of the drain manifold adjacent the filter housing, thereby to divide the integral assembly into a pair of chambers, namely the filter chamber and a manifold or control chamber. Thus, the static water head pressure from the tub acts on the diaphragm to keep it closed for filtering.

During the washing operation, the pump draws fluid from the treatment zone and through the filter. The filtered fluid then enters a port formed in a sidewall of the drain manifold and is returned to the treatment zone. During that mode of operation, the filter diaphragm is biased into a filtering position in abutment with the action surface of the filter housing due to the suction at the outlet port of the filter chamber and the pressure exerted on the reverse side of the diaphragm by the pressure head of the water in the tub or treatment zone. Lint and particulate matter are entrapped between the flter diaphragm and the action surface.

Fluid is drained from the treatment zone by reversing the operation of the pump so that a suction is created at the side port of the drain manifold and a positive pressure is exerted at the outlet port of the filtering chamber. The pressure differential across the diaphragm causes the diaphragm to flex out of engagement with the action surface, thereby allowing the trapped lint and particulate matter to be washed from the assembly and to a drain. Accordingly, the hollow interior of the manifold provides a control chamber so that the relative pressure between the filter chamber and the control chamber controls the disposition of the filter diaphragm. With that arrangement, in the event the machine is stopped during the washing and recirculation operations, the filter diaphragm is in equilibrium due to the static pressure head of water within the tub being applied to both sides of the diaphragm. Thus, the diaphragm automatically assumes the filtering position whenever the machine is stopped during washing and recirculating operations.

A wall is formed in the drain manifold to provide a deflector for directing fluid flowing from the tub toward the filter diaphragm downwardly across the reverse surface thereof and then upwardly to the side port, which is spaced from the filter diaphragm. The directionalization of flow allows soil particles, such as sand or the like, to be swept or flushed from the manifold chamber by the fluid stream while efficiently trapping larger and heavier particles, such as buttons, within the manifold chamber. Thus, the present invention provides an integral self-cleaning filter, drain manifold and button trap assembly for an automatic washing machine.

Maximum flexure of the filter diaphragm away from the action surface may be limited by ribs or projections formed on the drain manifold and overlying a peripheral portion of the diaphragm. During the draining operation, the ribs prevent the diaphragm from flexing to a point wherein it completely seals the section of the drain manifold adjacent the filter housing, thereby forming paths by which sand may be flushed from the peripheral area of the diaphragm. Also, the shape of the drain manifold adjacent the diaphragm is selected to permit flexure of that portion of the assembly in the event water contained therewithin freezes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A preferred EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, an integral self-cleaning filter and drain manifold assembly 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is shown in conjunction with an automatic clothes washing machine indicated generally at 11. However, it should be appreciated that, while a particularly useful application of the principles of the present invention is made to automatic washing machines, the present invention is of general utility.

' As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the washing machine 11 has a treatment zone 12 comprising a .tub 13 for receiving a supply of laundry liquid and a basket 14 centrally positioned therein. An agitator of the vertical-axis type is shown at 16. It will be understood that the principles of this invention are applicable to a washing machine incorporating other types of washing mechanisms, such as horizontal-type agitators or rotating drum baskets, and also find utility in filtering liquids in any other ap paratus incorporating a circulating hydraulic circuit. Further, it will be understood that the basket 14 could be of the type utilized in an overflow-rinse type of machine. However, for purposes of the illustrated embodiment herein described, the basket 14 is a so-called perforate basket having openings 140 formed in the walls thereof.

Disposed below a bottom wall 17 of the tub 13 is a laundry liquid or fluid pump 18 of the reversible flow type. An electric motor, diagrammatically illustrated at 19, drives the agitator 16 and the pump 18 via an appropriate transmission 21 or gear box. The motor 19 is energized and controlled by a presettable automatic sequential control means of the washing machine 11 to selectively operate the same through a complete programmed cleaning cycle, including washing, rinsing, extracting or drying and draining operations.

The pump 18 has a pair of fluid openings 22 and 23 respectively being in fluid communication with the treatment zone 12 via a manifold portion 24 of the assembly and a check valve 26 via a self-cleaning filter portion 27 of the assembly. The check valve'26 has an opening 28 which is in fluid communication with the treatment zone 12 contained within the tub 13, and opening 29 which is in fluid communication with an inlet port 31 of the self-cleaning filter portion 27 via a conduit 32 and an opening 33 which is in fluid communication with a drain conduit 34 connected to a drain. An outlet port 36 of the self-cleaning filter portion 27 communicates with the pump opening 23 via a conduit 37.

In the plumbing diagram illustrated in FIG. 1, the solid arrows represent the direction of flow of the laundry liquid through the hydraulic circuitry during a washing operation. In this respect, the check valve 26 incorporates two flappers 38a and 38b which are positioned automatically by fluid flow to allow fluid flow from the treatment zone 12 through the opening 28 and into the conduit 32 through the opening 29. Accordingly, during a washing operation, the pump will create a suction at port 36 of the self-cleaning filter portion 27 of the assembly 10 to draw liquid from the treatment zone 12 via the opening 28 of the check valve 26, the conduit 32, the filter portion 27 and the conduit 37. The laundry liquid discharged through the pump opening 22 enters a side port 39 of the drain manifold portion 24 of the assembly 10, from whence it passes through an opening 41 in the bottom wall of the tub l3 and into the treatment zone 12.

The direction of flow of the laundry liquid during an extracting and draining operation is shown by the broken lines. During that operation, the pump operation is reversed to draw laundry liquid from the tub I 1 through the opening 41 in the bottom wall 17 into the drain manifold portion 24 of the assembly 10, from whence it flows to the pump opening 22. The laundry liquid is discharged from the pump 18 through the opening 23, into the conduits 37, through the filter portion 27, the conduit 32 and the check valve 26, and is discharged to drain via the drain conduit 34. During the extracting and draining operation, flapper 38a of check valve 26 closes the opening 28 to prevent the fluid from returning to the treatment zone 12.

In accordance with the present invention and as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the integral self-cleaning filter and drain manifold assembly 10 comprises a two-piece housing including a filter body or housing 42 and a drain manifold 43, and a movable filter wall or diaphragm 44.

The filter housing comprises an end or bottom wall 7 46 and an upstanding generally cylindrical sidewall 47. An annular flange spaced concentrically inwardly of the sidewall 47 cooperates therewith to form a retaining groove 48 for grippingly receiving a mating peripheral attachment flange 49 of the diaphragm, thereby to mount the diaphragm in the filter body 42 in a manner to cooperate with the bottom wall 46 to form a filtering chamber 51 within the filter housing. If desired, the peripheral attachment flange 49 may be serrated as at 52 to increase the gripping engagement between the peripheral flange 49 and the retaining groove sidewalls.

The diaphragm 44 has a relatively stiff, circularly shaped, central portion 53 characterized by a filtering surface or face 54 confronting the bottom wall 46 of the filter body 42. Upstanding ribs 56 formed on the filter bottom wall 46 form an action surface cooperable with serrations 57 on the filtering surface 54 of the diaphragm 44 to define a filter maze whenever the diaphragm filtering surface is in abutting engagement with the ribs, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Additional details of the ribs 56 and the serrations 57 may be found in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,282,427, issued on Nov. 1, 1966 to the same assignee as the present invention.

In order to permit flexure or movement of the diaphragm central portion 57 towards and away from the filter body bottom wall 46, an annular, flexible hinge portion 58 interconnects the central portion of the peripheral attachment flange 49.

Port 31 and port 36 of the filter housing 42 are formed respectively by a pair of spaced, elbow-shaped, duct members 59 and 61 extending downwardly from the filter body bottom wall 46. The duct 59 and the duct 61 open into the filter chamber 51 at diametrically opposite positions, thereby requiring fluid entering one of the ports to flow completely across the filtering chamber before exiting through the opposite port.

Also, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the drain manifold 43 has its upper end adapted for mounting directly to the tub bottom wall 17 for receiving fluid directly from the treatment zone 12 and a lower end joined to the filter body, thereby to form an integral unit directly mounted on the tub 13. The flexible diaphragm 44 closes the lower end of the drain manifold and divides the unit or assembly 10 into the filtering chamber 51 and a manifold or control chamber 62 including a rear or upper surface 63, op-

posite the filtering face or surface 54 of the diaphragm. In that manner, the diaphragm 44 is positioned relative to the confronting filter body bottom wall 46 in response to pressure differentials between the filtering chamber 51 and the manifold chamber 62. The diaphragm is constructed and arranged so as to assume the filtering position when it is in pressure equilibrium. The water head pressure from the tub acts on the diaphragm, thereby eliminating the necessity of spouts, clamps or springs to hold the diaphragm closed.

In particular, the drain manifold 43 comprises a hollow member including a generally tubular portion 64 having a cylindrical sidewall 66 and a generally radially outwardly and downwardly extending attachment flange 67. The upper end 68 of the tubular portion 64 is opened and positioned in alignment with the drain port 41 formed in the tub bottom wall 17, thereby placing the treatment zone 12 in direct communication with the drain manifold 43.

In order to attach the drain manifold 64 to the tub bottom wall 17, a resilient grommet 69 is secured to the upper end portion of the drain manifold by a suitable hose clamp as at 71, and the grommet, in turn, is attached to the tub bottom wall. A central, peripheral groove 72 in the grommet enables asnap-fit assembly onto a complementally shaped rim 73 extending around the drain port 41 formed in the tub bottom wall 17.

The manifold attachment flange 67 has a radially extending top wall 74 overlying a peripheral section of the diaphragm 44 and a downwardly and outwardly offset, annular wall portion 75 terminating at an annular rim 76. The rim 76 is bonded or otherwise attached to the upper edge of the filter body sidewall 47. If desired, the rim 76 and the upper edge of the sidewall 47 may include mating tongue and groove portions as at 77 to facilitate the assembly of the drain manifold 43 centrally of the filter body 42.

It is also contemplated by the present invention to shape the drain manifold 43 in the area adjacent the diaphragm 44 in a manner to permit flexure of this portion of the drain manifold should water contained within the manifold chamber 62 happen to freeze. In this respect, the drain manifold 64 consists of a flexible material, and the top wall 74 of the attachment flange 67 is configured to slope downwardly toward the center of the unit 10, thereby to provide a flexible area which may assume the position indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2, if necessary, due to freezing.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, baffle means in the drain manifold direct fluid flowing from the treatment zone 12 and into the drain manifold 64 during an extracting and draining operation in a manner to directionalize the flow of fluid so that sand and other small particles will be flushed from the manifold chamber 62 while larger items, such as buttons, will be trapped and retained in the manifold chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the baflle means comprise a wall or deflector, indicated generally at 81, and the exit or side port 39 opens through the manifold sidewall 66 at a position spaced from the diaphragm 44. The fluid deflecting wall 81 has a slanted portion 83 extending downwardly into the center of the tubular portion of the manifold from a position immediately above the port 39. Extending downwardly from the outer end of the slanted wall 83 is a centrally disposed wall portion 84 having a terminal end 86 spaced above the diaphragm 44. With that configuration, the deflector 81 directs fluid entering the drain manifold 43 from the treatment zone 12 downwardly to the bottom area of the manifold chamber 62, across the rear surface 63 of the diaphragm 44 and then upwardly and out through the exit port 39. By directionalizing the fluid flow in that manner during an extracting and draining operation, particles such as sand or the like are swept out of the drain manifold 43 by the fluid stream while larger and heavier particles such as buttons are retained and trapped within the manifold chamber 62.

In order to prevent the diaphragm 44 from flexing away from the filter body bottom wall 46 to a point where it completely seals the lower end of the manifold tubular portion during the extracting and draining operation, ribs as at 87 extend downwardly from a lower side 88 of the attachment flange top wall 74. As illustrated in detail in FIG. 3, the ribs 87 may take the form of a plurality of circurnferentially spaced pairs of spaced-apart, depending ribs or flanges. During the extracting and draining operation, the diaphragm 44 flexes into abutment with the lower ends 89 of the ribs 87, thereby forming paths by which sand and other small particles may be flushed from the peripheral area of the diaphragm.

To facilitate connection of appropriate conduits to the exit port 39, the drain manifold 43 may include a laterally outwardly and downwardly extending cylindrical flange 91 formed as an extension of the exit port.

In operation in the hydraulic circuit of the exemplary washing machine 11, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, during the portion of the cleaning cycle wherein the washing fluid is recirculated within the machine, the pump 18 is operated to create a negative pressure or suction at the outlet port 36 in the filter chamber 51. That negative pressure within the filter chamber 51 and the static pressure head in the drain manifold chamber 62, due to its direct fluid connection with the treatment zone 12, cause the diaphragm 44 to assume abutting engagement with the co-operable action surface on the filter body bottom wall 46, thereby forming a filter maze or tortuous filter path through which the recirculated fluid is drawn. Thus, lint, sand, grit and other particles entrained in the fluid stream are trapped in the filter chamber 51 as the fluid passes therethrough.

At the completion of the recirculating portion of the cycle, the fluid is pumped from the treatment zone 12 during the draining operation. During that mode of operation, the flow through the pump is reversed to create a low pressure in the drain manifold and a higher pressure in the filtering chamber, thereby flexing the diaphragm out of abutting engagement with the action surface. With the flexible diaphragm 44 removed from abutting engagement with the action surface, the filter chamber opens to allow the draining fluid to be flushed across the cooperable filtering surfaces and thus flushing the previously entrapped particles from the filter chamber 51 and into the drain receiving water from the machine.

Also, as the fluid stream is drawn through the drain manifold 43 during the draining operation, the deflector 81 directs the fluid stream across the upper surface separate parts.

Although various modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, I wish to embody within the scope of the patentwarranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a cleaning apparatus having a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and means for circulating liquid selectively in opposite directions in the circuit, a self-cleaning filter assembly mounted in the circuit and including a movable filter member cooperating with an interior action surface to form a filtering chamber, the improvement comprising:

housing means forming a chamber on a side of the movable filter member opposite the filtering chamber;

said housing having an open end forming a port for said chamber and receiving fluid from the treatment zone;

means forming another port opening from said chamber and being spaced from the movable filter member; and

flow directing means in said chamber directing fluid entering said first mentioned port through said chamber in a manner to flush small particles therefrom while retaining larger particles such as buttons and the like, within said chamber.

2. In a washing machine cyclically operable through a washing cycle and a drain cycle,

means forming a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and a plural port pump for circulating liquid from the treatment zone through the circuit in one direction during said washing cycle and in an opposite direction during said drain cycle, and a fluid filtering device comprising:

housing means having an interior action surface, a

movable filter element mounted within said hous ing means for movement towards and away from said action surface and dividing said housing into a filtering chamber including said action surface and manifold chamber,

said filter element cooperating with said action surface to form a filter maze when in abutment therewith,

means forming a pair of fluid ports opening into said manifold chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and one of said plural ports of said pump, said pair of ports being positioned above said filter element,

means forming an inlet port and an outlet port opening into said filter chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and another of said plural ports of said pump;

said pump adapted to operate during the washing cycle to create a suction at said filter chamber outlet port to recirculate washing fluid from said treatment zone and through said filter,

whereby the pressure differential across said filter element maintains the same in abutment with said action surface to form a filter maze in said filtering chamber,

said pump operating during the drain cycle to create a suction in said manifold chamber to drain washing fluid from said treatment zone through said filtering chamber, thereby creating a pressure differential across said filter element to move the same out of engagement with said action surface to enable filtered matter to be flushed from said fil tering chamber, and flow directing means in said manifold chamber for directing fluid flowing therethrough during the drain cycle in a manner to flush small particles from said manifold chamber while retaining larger particles, such as buttons, within said chamber.

3. A washing machine as defined in claim 2 including a tub forming said treatment zone and having a bottom wall formed with a drain port, and wherein said housing 0 means comprises:

a filter body including a bottom wall having said action surface formed thereon and an upstanding sidewall extending around a periphery of said bottom wall,

a manifold housing including an upstanding, generally tubular body superjacent said filter body and having an open end disposed opposite said filtering element and in direct fluid communication with said tub drain port for forming one of said pair of ports opening into said manifold chamber,

the other of said pair of ports being formed in a sidewall of said tubular manifold body; and means for attaching said open end of said manifold body to said tub bottom wall.

4. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter element comprises a flexible diaphragm overlying said action surface and extending between said upstanding sidewall.

5. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable filter element has an equilibrium position abutting said action surface.

6. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means comprises a deflector wall formed within said manifold housing, said deflector wall having a first portion extending inwardly of said manifold sidewall from a point above said sidewall port and a second centrally disposed portion connected to said first portion and extending downwardly towards said movable filter element.

7. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold housing includes a radially extending, annular flange portion attaching the lower end of said tubular manifold body to the upper end of said upstanding side wall, said flange portion being adapted to flex away from said movable filter element in the event fluid contained within said manifold chamber freezes.

8. A washing machine as defined in claim 7 further including means affixed to the interior of the flange portion of said manifold chamber for limiting the movement of said movable filter element away from said action surface so as to allow the peripheral area of the upper surface of said element to be flushed by fluid flowing through said manifold chamber. 

1. In a cleaning apparatus having a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and means for circulating liquid selectively in opposite directions in the circuit, a self-cleaning filter assembly mounted in the circuit and including a movable filter member cooperating with an interior action surface to form a filtering chamber, the improvement comprising: housing means forming a chamber on a side of the movable filter member opposite the filtering chamber; said housing having an open end forming a port for said chamber and receiving fluid from the treatment zone; means forming another port opening from said chamber and being spaced from the movable filter member; and flow directing means in said chamber directing fluid entering said first mentioned port through said chamber in a manner to flush small particles therefrom while retaining larger particles such as buttons and the like, within said chamber.
 2. In a washing machine cyclically operable through a washing cycle and a drain cycle, means forming a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and a plural port pump for circulating liquid from the treatment zone through the circuit in one direction during said washing cycle and in an opposite direction during said drain cycle, and a fluid filtering device comprising: housing means having an interior action surface, a movable filter element mounted within said housing means for movement towards and away from said action surface and dividing said housing into a filterIng chamber including said action surface and manifold chamber, said filter element cooperating with said action surface to form a filter maze when in abutment therewith, means forming a pair of fluid ports opening into said manifold chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and one of said plural ports of said pump, said pair of ports being positioned above said filter element, means forming an inlet port and an outlet port opening into said filter chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and another of said plural ports of said pump; said pump adapted to operate during the washing cycle to create a suction at said filter chamber outlet port to recirculate washing fluid from said treatment zone and through said filter, whereby the pressure differential across said filter element maintains the same in abutment with said action surface to form a filter maze in said filtering chamber, said pump operating during the drain cycle to create a suction in said manifold chamber to drain washing fluid from said treatment zone through said filtering chamber, thereby creating a pressure differential across said filter element to move the same out of engagement with said action surface to enable filtered matter to be flushed from said filtering chamber, and flow directing means in said manifold chamber for directing fluid flowing therethrough during the drain cycle in a manner to flush small particles from said manifold chamber while retaining larger particles, such as buttons, within said chamber.
 3. A washing machine as defined in claim 2 including a tub forming said treatment zone and having a bottom wall formed with a drain port, and wherein said housing means comprises: a filter body including a bottom wall having said action surface formed thereon and an upstanding sidewall extending around a periphery of said bottom wall, a manifold housing including an upstanding, generally tubular body superjacent said filter body and having an open end disposed opposite said filtering element and in direct fluid communication with said tub drain port for forming one of said pair of ports opening into said manifold chamber, the other of said pair of ports being formed in a sidewall of said tubular manifold body; and means for attaching said open end of said manifold body to said tub bottom wall.
 4. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter element comprises a flexible diaphragm overlying said action surface and extending between said upstanding sidewall.
 5. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable filter element has an equilibrium position abutting said action surface.
 6. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means comprises a deflector wall formed within said manifold housing, said deflector wall having a first portion extending inwardly of said manifold sidewall from a point above said sidewall port and a second centrally disposed portion connected to said first portion and extending downwardly towards said movable filter element.
 7. A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold housing includes a radially extending, annular flange portion attaching the lower end of said tubular manifold body to the upper end of said upstanding side wall, said flange portion being adapted to flex away from said movable filter element in the event fluid contained within said manifold chamber freezes.
 8. A washing machine as defined in claim 7 further including means affixed to the interior of the flange portion of said manifold chamber for limiting the movement of said movable filter element away from said action surface so as to allow the peripheral area of the upper surface of said element to be flushed by fluid flowing through said manifold chamber. 